Learning how to make white rice on the stove is a skill that I actually recently acquired. Not because it's hard, but because we always cheated and used a rice cooker in my house! But, if you follow a few simple steps, you can have perfectly cooked, fluffy white rice, made on the stove every time!

Since my family is Cuban, we eat white rice A LOT...we eat it with our black beans, picadillo, and almost all our favorite cuban dishes! (My American husband has learned to love it!) So, if you are like us, it might be worth it to invest in a rice cooker. They are inexpensive and the rice is perfect every time. But I'm guessing since you're here, you either don't have one or want to master this skill too!

So let's get right to it and learn how to make white rice on the stove!

Do you have to rinse rice before cooking it?

While you don't HAVE to, it's a good idea to rinse your rice until the water runs clear. This removes the excess starches from the rice and will help prevent your water from bubbling over and creating a starchy mess on your stove top and pot. It also helps keep the rice from being too sticky. We always rinse ours for the best result!

What is the ratio of water to white rice?

You'll want to follow a 2:1 ratio. 2 cups of water for each heaping cup of rice. The "heaping" is important!

How much uncooked rice to should you cook:

Well, each cup of uncooked rice will yield 3 cups of cooked rice. For my family of 4, we usually make 2 cups (uncooked) and still end up with a bit left over.

When you're ready to cook your rice, here's the steps you'll follow:

Rinse your rice under the faucet until the water runs clear. I usually just shake it around for about 30 seconds or so. You'll then add that rice to your empty pot. (I didn't use one in the photos but a non-stick pot works great!)
Add in your water. Like I mentioned above, you'll add 2 cups of water for every heaping cup of rice.
If you ever wondered why your rice is clumpy or too sticky...this step is for you! Add a tablespoon of oil for every cup of rice you cook. We use olive oil but anything will do...even butter works well! You'll also want to add ½ teaspoon of salt for every cup of rice you're making.
Once you've added your rice, water, salt, oil. You can bring everything to a full rolling boil. Once it's boiling, cover the pot and turn the heat down to a simmer and leave it for exactly 18 minutes. Then remove it from the stove and let it sit for 5 more minutes. Fluff with a fork then serve!

How to know when rice is done cooking:

You'll want to look at the holes on the top of the rice. No more water should be coming up from them. Once you see this, it's just about done! You can take the pot off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes before removing the lid.

What to eat with white rice: